Mechanical rotary drilling control



12, 1931- P. JONES ET AL 1,804,779

MECHANICAL ROTARY DRILLING CONTROL Filed June 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet lE NG/NE PHILIP JONES PAUL W. PRUTZMAN A T TORNEY y 12, 1931- I P. JONESET AL 1,804,779

MECHANICAL ROTARY DRILLING CONTROL Filed June 24. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2E T 37 38 0 b 23 38 r 0 1 I o o 0 0 D a o 0 44 n 37 co 00 cc 0 a. 00 coco 39 v 36 4o v 4/// 40 2a FIG.2 25

PHILIP JONES PAUL W. PRUTZMAN VENTDR FIG. 3 70 fi l A T TORNE) May 12,113%. P. JONES ET AL 1,804,779

MECHANICAL ROTARY DRILLING CONTROL Filed June 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5X PHILIP JONES F|G.6 PAUL W. PRUTZMAN lNVENTO 1441 LO. W

A 7' TORNEY May 12, 1931, P. JONES ET AL MECHANICAL ROTARY DRILLINGCONTROL Filed June 24, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PHILIP JONES PAUL W.PRUTZMAN NVE/VTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1931 PHILIP JONES ANDPAUL W.PRUTZMAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MECHANICAL ROTARY DBILLIN G CONTROL Application filed June 24,

Our invention pertains to the art of drilling wells by the rotary methodand particularlyto a manner of regulating the feed of the tools, asdrilling progresses, by means actuated by the torque placed on the drillpipe. 1

It is well known that in the rotary method the drilling is accomplishedby means of a bit which comes in contact with the bottom of the hole,the bit being at the end of a string-of pipe commonly known as the drillstring. When deep wells are being drilled the weight of this string ofpipe if allowed to rest on the bit, would be so great that it would beimpossible to revolve it and the string would be broken or the bittwisted off.

It is therefore necessary to provide means by which the pipe may bepartially supported on the drilling line or cable by which the tools areraised and lowered in the hole,

' and it is further desirable to make this supporting means responsiveto the torque placed on the pipe. Such torque-responsive means areactuated by the torsional stress. which the pipe momentarily undergoesand are so arranged that if this torque exceeds a predetermined maximumthe drill string will be automatically lift-ed for a suflicient distanceto relieve the pressure of the bit on the bottom of the hole. By thismeans the torsional stress on the pipe is immediately reduced and isautomatically kept below the point at which a twist-off wouldvbe likely'to' occur.

Many such devices have been proposed and "we do not claim the inventionof torque-responsive means in general, but only the certain'torque-responsive means about to be described.

The apparatus required for the practice of our invention consists offour elements: (1) a rotary drilling rig of any type in which the toolsare revolved, directly or indirectly, by power transmitted through asprocket chain or a belt, (22 a torque-responsive means associated Wlth,the chain or belt, (3) a means for raising and lower-n,

1 ing thetools in the hole, (hereinafter termed a feeding means)associated with the drilling line, and (4) devices for applying the1929. Serial No. 373,369.

in connection with devices (4) for the con-,,

trol of the feeding means is the invention which we here claim.

The particular feeding means (3) here shown is of our invention but isseparately described and claimed in a companion aplication entitledPower actuated means for ceding rotary drills, filed June 24, 1929,Serial No. 373,372.

In the attached drawings, to which reference is made 1 shows inelevation a complete assembly containing the four units above described.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the torque-responsive means.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the torque-responslve means.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line EE 1g. 2. Fig. 5 is a crosssection on the line FF of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevational detail of the control unit indicated at 28 inFig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross'section of the adjustment unit indicated at74 in Fig. 1, and

-Tliese arrangements are entirely conventional. The drilling rig shownalso includes the engine 17, the sprockets 18, 19, 20 and 2 1 and thechains 22 and 23, the chains running in the direction indicated by thearrows C and driving the rotary table by means of the usual rack andpinion, not shown, in the plied to a single chai1f,'or to any one chainin a series, through which the power for rotating the table istransmitted.

, Describing element 2, the torque-responsive means, and referring toFigs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 24 is a rigid metallic basin having a threadedopening and a circumferential flat rim 26. A flexible metallic diaphragm27 laced over the upperside of this basin orms a substantially closedchamber 28,

which is normally filled with a liquid. A

metallic ring 29 is placed over the edge of theplate and is bolted tothe rim 26 by means of a plurality of'bolts 30, thus retaining the edgeof the diaphragm. Prior to bolting up, both edges of the diaphragmshould-be coated with a cement which will set hard and fluid-tight.

Integral with the ring 29 we form two standards 31- connected by across-bar 32. The lower side of this cross-bar has at its center a boss33 drilled through vertically to admit a loose fitting'pin 34. This pinbears 'at its lower end on a. small cushion block 35 laced at the centerof the diaphragm 27. bove the upper surface of the cross-bar andsubstantially at its ends we form two vertical yokes 36, drilled throughto admit pins 37 on which idler rolls 38 freely revolve.

In the partial slot formed by the yokes 36 and resting onthe uppersurface of the cross-bar we lay the platform spring 39. Excessive endmovement of this spring is prevented by the two ribs 40 formed betweenthe yokes 36. At the center of this spring we place a yoke blockconsisting of the plate 41 and the integral risers 42, these risersbeing drilled through for the pin 43 on which the idler roll 44revolves. This yoke block is retained in .place on the spring by theclamp plate 45 and the through bolts 46. The pin 34 is of such lengththat it just touches the lower surface of plate 45 when there is nopressure within the chamber and the diaphragm is not expanded.

The unit above described is rigidly attached' to pillow blocks 46(Fig. 1) in such position that the lower or tension side of chain 33will just touch the lower faces of the rolls 38 when the chain isstraight. The camber of the spring v39 should be such that a materialdeflection of the chain is produced when it is passed'under'rolls 38 andover roll 44. A." generally suitable deflection is the diameters oft-therolls or the camber of the spring. With the chain removed. the springwith its idler roll may readily be lifted out and replaced by one ofdifferent stiflness or curvature. At such time the pin.34 may be liftedout.and another of a different length substituted.

The operation of this device is as follows. As the tension on the chainincreases, due to increase torque on the pipe, the chain tends forciblyto pull out to a straight line. This tendency is resisted by the spring39 and, for a spring of any given stillness, the extent to which thedeflection of the chain is reduced and that of the spring increased is ameasure of the torsional strain on the pipe. This measure may beconverted into a visual reading by any of the well known devices formeasuring longitudinal-movement, such for instance as an arm pivoted atits center with one end resting on or near the center of the spring andthe other moving over a graduated scale as the center of the springrises and falls.

' As the sprin flattens the pin 34 is forced downward an the diaphragm27 is deflected inwardly reducing the capacity of the chamber 28 andforcibly displacing a part of the liquid contained therein. Thisdisplaced liquid is used to actuate the controls of the feedingmechanism, as will be described.

Describing element 3, the feeding means, and referring solely to Fig. 1,47 is a pump which is shown as a direct acting steam pump, but which maybe a rotary or power pump driven by any throttling type of engine: This.ump or its driving engine is supplied'wit steam or other compressiblefluid through a pipe 48, which divides into two branches. the pump andis controlled by a hand stop valve 50, which is used only for puttingthis branch out of commission, and by the automatic control valve 51,which is detailed in Fig. 8 and will be later described. The branch 52,controlled by the manual valve 53, is a by-pass around the automaticcontrol.

The pump withdraws, through a pipe 54, a stream of liquid from a tank55, this liquid being water or, preferably, a more viscous liquid suchas lubricating oil or glycerine. The liquid discharged by the pumppasses through a pipe 56 which is provided with a check valve 57 andwhich divides into two branches. Branch 58 leads to the intake of aliquid actuated motor 59, the liquid passing through this motor flowingthrough a pipe 60 into the lower portion of tank 55.

Branch 49 leads direct-to Branch 61, provided with an automatic controlvalve 62 which is detailed in Fig. 6 and will be later described,discharges preferably into the upper portion of tank 55.

The motor 59'may be any liquid actuated motor which is capable ofmaintaining a constant torque at constant liquid pressure and which maybe reversed in direction without change in torque. We prefer to use forthis purpose a rotary pump of either the mesh-gear or the sliding-vanetype, these devices, as is well known, functioning as pumps when drivenby applied power and acting as prime movers when supplied with liquidunder pressure. A machine par.-

I ticularly suitable for this use is fully defree end of the drillingline is wound. This reel, when revolved in the direction indicated byarrow'A, takes in line and tends to lift the tools free from the bottomof the hole,

while if it revolves in a reverse direction it pays out line and feedsthe drill string downwardly.

Describing element 4, the control means, we have communicating pipesshown only in Fig. 1, a liquid pressure control 62 which is detailed inFig.6, a steam control 51 which is detailed in Fig. 8 and a liquidvolume compensation means for adjusting the positions of the diaphragms,which is detailed in Fig. 7.

The communicating means comprises a pipe 66 and three branch pipes 67,68 and 69, pipe 66 communicating with the opening 25 in thetorque-responsive means indicated at .70 in Fig. 1. Branch pipe 67communicates with the pressure control unit indicated at 62 in Fig. 1.Branch pipe 68, which is provided with a manual stop valve 71,communicates with the steam con- 1 .trolunit indicated at 51 at 1.Branch pipe 69 communicates with the diaphragm adjusting unit indicatedat in Fi 1.

The pressure control unit 62 is etailed in Fig. 6, in which a basinshaped shell 72 and a diaphragm 73 are supported by two standards 74which are clamped to plpe 61 by the draw bolts 75.

A lever 76 carrying a movable ball 77 is swingingly attached to one ofthe standards by the bolt 78. This lever rests on the stem 79 of thevalve 80, which should be a seat and disc valve having pressure comingbeneath the disc, as in any ordinary safety or relief valve. At thecenter of the diaphragm 73 is placed a. small pillow block 81 which isindented to receive one end of the pin 82,, the other end of the pinresting on the upper face of-lever 76. The pin should be of such lengththat the lever may rise and attached to this sufiicientl to permit themaximum discharge 0 pump 47 to pass through valve before the pin comesinto bearing, the diaphragm being in retracted position.

The diaphragm adjusting unit 65 is detailed in 7, in which the shell 83and diaphragm 84 are made fast to a yoke 85. Through this yoke isinserted a temper screw 86 having the hand wheel 87, theend of thisscrew bearin'g on the pillow block 51 at the center of diaphragm. Onadvancing this screw the diaphragm is depressed, decreasing the volumeof the chamber 89 and forcing liquid out through pipe 69 which is a partof the communicating system. On retratcing the screw a portion of theliquid in the system is permitted to flow back into the chamber. By thismeans the diaphragms'in units 70, 62 and 51 may be -Fig. 8, in crosssection. The shell 90 and diaphragm 91 are held together by the rings 92and bolts 93. The valve body 94 is interposed in pipe 49, shown at 51 inFig. 1, and the above .assembly is spaced from pipe by straps not shown.I

A yoke 95 is attached at one end .of the diaphragm 91, as at point 96.The opposite cross-bar. of t l 1 is yoke is attached to valve stem 97.by the loose pin 98. The valve body has a tapered seat 99 into which isfitted a tapered disc 100 fastened to 'the stem 97. The valve bodyshould be so placed in pipe 49 that the steam pressure comes on top ofthe disc.

When pressure is placed on the liquid contents of the chamber 101 thediaphragm is deflected outwardly and thedisc 100 is lifted from the seat99, permitting steam to flow through the valve. On the release of suchpressure the valve will be closed by no expenditure of power isrequired. The

larger part of this steam may be saved by reversing these valvepositions and thus bringing into play the steam control unit 51, whichcuts off the steam supply except at such times as it' is required forlifting the tools" to prevent a twist-off.

Assuming for the present that the hand valves are in the first namedposition, the apparatus functions as follows. The engine 1 being inoperation, the rotary table 16 is rotated in the direction of the arrowB, the sprocket chains moving in the direction indicated by the arrowsC. The lower half of each chain is thus under a tension proportional tothe; resistance to' rotation of the rotary table, or in other words, tothe torsional stress on the drill string.

Coincidently, the pump 47 being in operation, a stream of liquid will bewithdrawn from tank 55 and returned thereto through the pressure controlunit 62, the pressure in the discharge pipes 56 and 61 being regulatedby weight 77 on lever 76 gig. 6). This pressure will be so adjusted t ata part of the liquid will pass through motor 59-, thus rotating reel 64in the direction of arrow A and winding in the drilling line 13 until adesired proportion of the weight of the tools is sustained by theline.When this point is reachedthe torque of motor 59 is in balance againstthe sustained weight and the motor will stall.

As the bit drills free the sustained weight will obviously increase, thetorque of the motor will be exceeded and the motor will be forced to runbackward, feeding the tools downwardly as above described.

The torque-responsive unit 70, Fig. '2, is in position on the lower halfof chain 23 and has a spring of such strength as to maintain a normaldeflection of the chain with a predetermined safe maximum torque on thedrill pipe. If this maximum is momentarily exceeded the deflection ofthe chain is decreased, the diaphragm 27 of the torque-responsive unitis depressed and liquid is forced out of the unit into pipe 66 andthrough this pipe into the pressure regulating unit 62, where itoccasions a corresponding outward displacement of diaphragm 73 and thuspartially or entirely closes valve 80. The liquid stream from the pumpis thus directed into pipe 30, increasing the pressure on the motorintake and causing the motor to revolve forward, thus driving the reel17in the direction of arrow G and lifting the tools free'from the bottom,or reducing their pressure thereon. The torsional stress on the pipe isthus partly relieved, the deflection in chain 23 is permitted toincrease, torque-responsive unit 70 readmits the displaced liquid andthe valve 80 returns to its normal position. By this combination ofmovements any excess torsional strain on the drill pipe due to excessivebit pressure is instantly and positively relieved. I

If the steam control 51 is brought into play by opening valves 71 and 50and closing valve 53, the steam valve 94 remains closed so long as thechain deflection is below its predetermined A suf-- fully the controlsystem will vary ficient suppl of steam may be admitted through hanvalve 53 to reel in any slack line and to raise the pressure ondischarge pipe 56 to the point where the motor 59 will stall when thedesired portion of the weight of the tools is carried on the line.Theoretically the hand valve could be closed at this point, thebalancing pressure resting on-the check valve 57, but there willactually be some leakage through the motor, and it is desirable to soadjust valve 53 as to keep the pum running very slowly with a trickle 0oil flowing through the pressure re lator 62. r

f now the torsional stress increases, forcing liquid out oftorque-responsive means 70, part of this li uid will be forced into thediaphragm cham er of pressure regulator 62, but a part will enterthechamber of steam-control 51, thus opening the steam valve 94 andproviding a steam supply for suddenly raising the pressure on motor 59and quicklyretrieving the drill string. The same result may be attained,but very wasteby operating the pump ata constant speed suificient tokeep a full stream of actuating liquid flowing through regulator 62.- Itwill thus be seen that the steam control 51 is a' steam saving deviceand is not strictly essential to the successful application of ourinvention, though it is in every way desirable.

The volume of the liquid supply within i with changes in temperature,and if this supply is adjusted for warm weather conditions the pins 34and 82 ma become slack, due to shrinka of liquid, in cold weather- Thisslackness may render the control units too slowly responsive to themovement of the diphragm in torque-responsive unit 70. We thereforeprefer to utilize the means for compensating change of volume indicatedat 65 in Fig. l and described in connection with Fig. 7.

On advancing the screw as described, liquid may be forced out of thechamber 89 and into the communicating system to compensate shrinkage,the proper adjustment being reached when the loose pins referred tobecome free from appreciable end lay.

While we have described a highly s ecific embodiment of our invention ina pre erred form we do not limit ourselves to any of the structuraldetails shown, nor even to the use of diaphragm chamber means. We prefersuchmeans as they require no packing and are 'free from leakage andfriction, but if preferred, hydraulic cylinders having pistons thereinmay be substituted for the diaphragm means. Likewise, while we haveshown a preferred form of feeding means,

such means might be replaced by a hydraublock or the travelling block orbeing aflixed to the derrick or to an adjacent fixed object, the pistoncarrying an idler sheave rove into the drilling line at someintermediate point in its length, or being attached to the free end ofthe line, orbeing so attached as to directly raise and lower the drillstring.

\Ve claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus for rotary well drilling including a drill string, arotary table for revolving said string, a drilling line for partiallysupporting the weight of said drill string, a secondary feedin meansassociated with said drilling line an operated by fluid pressure forraising and lowering said drill string, and a prime mover adapted todrive said'rotary table through the medium of a flexible band of whichone side is in tension; a device for controlling said secondary feedingmeans comprising: means for deflecting the tension side of said bandfrom a straight line; means for transinittin the thrust of saiddeflecting means to a fixed collapsible reservoir containing liquid,thereby displac I ing a portion of said liquid; and means fortransmitting said displaced liquid to a pressure-responsive meansadapted to regulate the pressure of liquid in said secondary feedingmeans.

2. In an apparatus for rotary well drilling including a drill string, arotary table for revolving said string, a drilling line for partiallysupporting the weight of said drill string, a secondary feeding meansassociated with said drilling line and operated by fluid pressure forraising and lowering said drill string, and a prime mover adapted todrive said rotary table through the medium of a sprocket chain; a devicefor controlling said seconda feeding means comprising: means for deecting the tension side of sald chain from a straight line in its planeof travel; means for transmitting the thrust of said deflecting means toa fixed collapsible reservoir containing liquid, thereby displacing aportion of said liquid; and means for transmitting said displaced liquidto a pressure-responsive means adapted to regulate the pressure ofliquid in said secondary feeding means.

3. In an apparatus for rotary well dl'llling including a drill string, arotary table I for revolving said string, a drilling line for partiallysupporting the weight of sa1d dr1ll string, a secondary feedin meansassoclated with said drilling 'line an operated by fluid pressure forraising and lowering said drill ,string, and a prime mover adapted todrive said rotary table through the medium of a flexible band of whichone side is in tension;

a device for controlling said secondary feeding means comprising: afixed reservoir filled with liquid, one side of said reservoir being aflexible diaphragm; a movable element interposed between said diapnragmand the tension side of said band and adapted to fixed reservoir to saidpressure-responsive means.

4. In an apparatus for rotary well drilling including a drill string, arotary table for revolving said string, a drilling line for partiallysupporting the weight of said drill string, a secondary feeding meansassociated with said drilling line and operated by fluid pressure forraising and lowering said drill string, and a prime mover adapted todrive said rot-ar table through the medium of a sprocket chain; a devicefor controlling said secondary feeding means comprising: a fixedreservoir filled with liquid, one side of said reservoir being aflexible diaphragm; a'movable element interposed between said diaphragmand the'tension-side of said band and adapted to deflect the tensionside of said chain from a straight line in its plane of travel; a reliefvalve adapted to control the. liquid pressure in said secondary feedingmeans; a pressure-responsive means associated with said relief valveandadapted to regulate the weight thereon, and means for transmittingliquid from said fixed reservoir to said pressure-responsive means.

5. In an apparatus for rotary Well drilling including a rota table,a'prime mover adapted to drive sai rotary table through the medium of aflexible band of which one side is in tension, and a secondary feedingmeans including a liquid-actuated motor, a winding reel driven by saidmotor, means for supplying said motor with liquid under pressure andrelief valve means for regulating said pressure: pressure-responsivemeans associated with said relief valve means for further regulatingsaid pressure and torqueresponsive means actuating saidpressureresponsive means, said torque-responsive means comprising: meansfor deflecting the tension side of said flexible band from a straightline; means for transmitting the thrust of,said deflecting means to afixed reservoir containing liquid and having a flexible element incontact with said deflecting means, and means of communication betweensaid fixed reservoir and' said pressure-responsive means.

6; In an apparatus for rotary well drilling including a rotary table, aprime mover adapted to drive said rotary table through the medium of aflexible band of which one side is in tension, and a secondaryfeedingmeans including a liquid-actuated motor, a"

winding reel driven by said motor, pumping means for supplying saidmotor with for regulating said pressure: pressure-responsive meansassociated with sa1d umping means for further regulating sai pressureand torque-responsive means actuating said pressure-responsive means,said torqueresponsive means comprising: means for deflecting the tensionside of said flexible band from a straight line; means for transmittingthe thrust of said deflecting means to a. fixed reservoir containingliquid and having a flexible element in contact with said deflectingmeans, and means of communication between said fixed reservoir and saidpressure-responsive means.

7. In an apparatus pted to rive said rotary table through the medium ofa sprocket chain, and a secondary feeding means including aliquidactuated motor, a winding "reel driven by said motor, means forsupplying said motor with li uid under pressureand relief valve means orregulating said pressure: pressure-responsive means associated with saidrelief valve means for further regulating said pressure andtorque-responsive means actuating said pressure-responsive means,

said torque-responsive means comprising:

means for deflecting the tension side of said chain from a straight linein its plane of travel; means'for transmitting the thrust of saiddeflectin means to a fixedereservoir 7 containing liqui and having aflexible element in contact with said deflecting means, and means ofcommunication between said fixed reservoir and said pressure-responsivemeans.

8. In an apparatus for rotary well drill the medium of a sprocket chain,and a secondary feeding means including a liquidactuated motor, awinding reel driven by said motor, pumping means for supplying saidmotor with li uid under pressure and relief valve means or regulatingsaid pressure: pressure-responsive means assoclated with said umpingmeans for further regulating sai pressure and torque-responslve meansactuating said pressure-responsivemeans, said torque-responsive-meanscomprising: means for deflecting the tension side .of said. chain fromastraight line in a its plane of travel; means for transmittin thethrust of said deflectingm'eans to a fixe reservoir containing liquidand having a flexible element in contact with said deflecting meansyandmeans of communication between said fixed reservolr and saidpressure-responsive means.

'In witness that .we claim the foregoing-we have hereunto -subscribedour names this 19th day of June 1929.

, PHILIP JONES.-

W. PBUTZMAN.

for rotar well drillin? includin a rotary table, a prime mover mgincluding a rotar table, a prime mover adapted to rive sai rotarv tablethrough

